Teen trekkers die in Himachal snowstorm, loyal pitbull guards bodies for days

A heart-wrenching story of loyalty emerged from the snow-bound heights of Bharmour in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district after two teenagers died during a winter trek and their pet dog stood by their bodies for several days in freezing conditions before rescuers arrived.

Nineteen-year-old Viksit Rana , a resident of Gharer village , and his 13-year-old cousin Piyush Kumar from Malkota village, set out on January 22 to trek toward the Bharmani Mata Temple , a high-altitude shrine, with the aim of filming content for social media. They were accompanied by their family’s pitbull dog, Jonu . Despite warnings of heavy snowfall in the region, the boys continued into the upper reaches of the Barmani range carrying a tent, sleeping bags, and food .

A sudden blizzard engulfed the terrain on January 23, and the duo lost contact with their families after a final brief phone call. In the following days, temperatures plunged into sub-zero levels and heavy snowfall reduced visibility, complicating search efforts.

A massive multi-agency search operation was launched involving the State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, local police, villagers, mountaineering teams, and helicopters. After four days, rescuers spotted the scene they had feared: Jonu, the pitbull , was still beside Piyush’s body, shivering and exhausted but steadfastly guarding him. Viksit’s body was found a short distance away. The dog had endured the harsh conditions without food or water, refusing to leave the teens’ side.

Both bodies and the dog were airlifted to Bharmour and handed over to their families. Officials said the deaths were likely due to hypothermia , though final medical reports were awaited. The incident has drawn widespread attention across India, highlighting the extraordinary loyalty of the pet dog in the face of tragedy.